W10:2... good run, bad tech

[ktsok]

I got into the habit of writing a post after every C25k run. It became as much part of the routine as lacing up the shoes. I shall probably start collating my thoughts in a journal, rather than bore the pants of this community with a breakdown of run 30, 31, 32, etc, etc... however! I will tell you about this one: 29, my post-post graduation run 😉

The challenging weather continues. Today it was solid rain interspersed with hard downpours. I figured that is what waterproofs were designed for and ventured out.

I had a bad time with the Nike Run Club App and the car last time out. I had driven to a new location for my first non-C25k experience and the handbrake cable snapped when I parked up. The incident interfered slightly with my ability to get into the meditative state the Headspace guided Run required, but I got there in the end and was plodding along quite happily past the 3k mark when the wind took my hat. In the ensuing rescue, I managed to pause the App and about 2km of the run then went unrecorded. Given this was the first time I had run an entire 5k, I was a bit miffed.

Today was a different day. I thought I would try the same guided 30 minute recovery run and once warmed up, headed off at a nice slow pace. I took some paths across fields and tracks I haven’t been down before, with a few inclines, some gates and some muddy areas, but just slowed down even more and kept it nice and steady. The rain was dripping off my nose, I was steaming a little; I was feeling really good at the 30 minute mark! I knew I had been doing about 7’15” km on the slow muddy bits as I’d had a peek at the pace on the phone earlier, so I sped up and ran another 8 minutes or so to make sure I bagged the 5k.

Feeling good, I looked at my phone and... the guided run had stopped recording time and distance at 30 minutes! My second 5k, unrecorded!

I know the important thing is I did the run, I felt good, and so on - but it’s really annoying at this early stage when I’m pushing into new distances not to be able to dwell proudly on my run statistics! Grrrr! I don’t think I can justify the cost of a Garmin FR given the handbrake (and life) situation, but but but...😠...⌚️

[Jell6 Graduate10]

Oh no!

I know you know you have done the 2 x 5 k, but that's not the same as seeing it!👀, and I know that you like your statistics.

For that reason alone I think you will get that Garmin .

Have you got a birthday coming up?

Perhaps you could ask everyone to please give money, that's what my sister did when she wanted a treadmill. It was her best present ever!

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

No birthday until October and no doting (affluent) partner to surprise me with a Valentines gift! I have been looking at the Garmin Forerunner 35 secondhand... I don’t need to wear it full-time, just for running... 🧐

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Not a bad idea, people do upgrade for various reasons, you might get one from eBay or similar. 😊

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

It seems excessive as I have a Fitbit, but you have to press buttons to light up the screen and frankly, I can’t see the figures anyway with my 43 year old eyes! It would be nice to do some pace work and timed runs at some point without fumbling a phone out of a pocket and logging in whilst running...

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

I love my Garmin and spent far more on it than I would ever normally on myself ever. They are great.

I'd be looking to see who is offering a 0% interest card, that way you can pay it off over a period of time instead of a big hit. 👍😉

[ktsok in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Hmmm... that’s an idea... you temptress! Which Garmin did you get? I’m thinking the 35 might be enough for my needs...

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

I spent months debating then I went all out for the 645m as I wanted it to carry my music so I don't need my phone but the 35 will more than likely do the trick 👍

[Oldlady57]

If your using an iPhone ktsok, it may have recorded on your health app. Congratulations on getting out there & doing your run👍🏻

[ktsok in reply to Oldlady57]

Thanks Oldlady (I feel rude calling you that!) 🤭😊

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Oldlady61 makes a good point. All my information/data comes from my Samsung health app, all I do is set for running and press start.

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

I guess you don’t bother look at pace/heart rate when you are running?

Such a lot to learn!

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

No, but maybe because I can't!

My fitbit became inaccurate, and Garmin don't cater for small wrists!.

I do look at all the pace data when I get home, but no HR info.

My phone app does give me shout outs every km, my average pace per km and time remaining.

I can put my finger on a sensor on my phone, post run but I doubt the accuracy of that.

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

Well, it seems to work well for you!

[seaspaniel in reply to Jell6]

I have an 18cm wrist and my Garmin has another 7 notches to go . So the smallest wrist on mine is 14.5cm. However the devices are bigger to fit in all the tech and provide a slightly raised surface for accurate HR measurement.

[Oldlady57 in reply to ktsok]

Not at all!! I am an old lady 😂😂 it’s what l tell my grandchildren when l don’t want to do something 🤣🤣😉

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Don’t think of a Garmin or whatever as cost...it is an investment!!😊 quick glance at the watch to check your pace every so often puts you in control of the run, and then there is all that lovely data to analyse on the connect app. I could not have got to 10k without a running watch. I have a forerunner 35 which is one of he cheaper ones, but it does everything I need...😊

[ktsok in reply to Beachcomber66]

That’s helpful, thank you (particularly as I have been eyeing up the 35 as opposed to the pricey 235)!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

I think I chose it as the cheapest watch I could find with its own GPS.

[Razouski]

I’ve been running for just over 2 years now, and have completed 5k, 10k and even ran a half marathon or two last year. I’ve never had a running watch, I just record all my runs on Mapmyrun App on my iPhone and it seems to be pretty reliable. You can choose how often you get voice feedback so I have it at every km, and wear one earphone to hear it and my music. You can also select what info you get given: distance so far, current pace, overall pace, splits etc. And I just use the free version.

Hope you find something that works for you. It’s so disappointing when you’ve run that far and there is no record.

[ktsok in reply to Razouski]

Wow, that’s a lot of running! I guess it’s just a case of figuring out what works for you, whether that be music, aural notifications, silence, heart rate visuals... I shall try out the cheapest options and go from there I think. Buying a Garmin is a bit of a knee jerk response to the disappointment! Thank you for the advice 🙏

[Razouski in reply to ktsok]

Yes, you’re right. I have to have my music as well and Mapmyrun just interrupts it at the intervals set, but without stopping my playlist. I don’t do the heart rate thing so pretty happy with my App. I’m sure you’ll work out what suits you.

[E27M14 Graduate10]

I have a Withings watch which I was given for Christmas. I chose it because at the time I only wanted very basic tracking, and I wanted it to look like a real watch so that people didn’t see it and think “why is that fat old lady wearing a sort tracker?” Oh how things change in such a short time 😂I really want the forerunner 235 and will treat myself if I have any spending money left when I come home from my holiday. In the meantime I run the Withings app, Spotify for the tunes, Nike Run Club to give me alerts along the way (I too can’t read the numbers on my watch whilst running!), and Strava to record the data. That way, at the end I have three different sets of data that are all similar but when one fails I have others. My iPhone copes with all of those together and only sucks up about 15% off the battery for a 40 minute run.

[ktsok in reply to E27M14]

E! You are here!

Yes, I too covet the 235. However... it’s expensive! And I think the 35, though uglier, has better battery life... but it’s ugly... but if I only wear it for running it doesn’t matter... and it doesn’t track swimming... I was swimming a mile last year and I guess it might be nice to record that... maybe... I’d like to be able to ditch the phone/having to use the phone... and I want to see my pace/distance/time whilst running...

I headed down a track today and for the first time had this sense of just wanting to keep going, further and further away. But I had a school run and didn’t want to run so far that I wouldn’t get back in time! I was squinting at the Fitbit and fumbling my phone trying to make a decision about when to turn round...

I need a windfall!

⌚️

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

BOTHER! Have you tried Runkeeper on your phone? Sometimes it gives me a 4 min km (which we all know is a lie!) but in general it’s been pretty good.And do bore us with your run write ups. It motivates those of us sitting on the couch in front of the 🔥 😁

[ktsok in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Haha, ok, I’ll keep grimacing and gurning and sharing 😊

[Flaraflarkin Graduate10]

Keep posting! It's all part of the journey, we can't get enough of it on here!😂😂 I can't comment on the watch rarely use my old Ironman but glad you're liking the Headspace runs - I love love love them!!😍

[ktsok in reply to Flaraflarkin]

I have only listened to the free ones on the Nike Run Club App, but I like what I have heard so far!

Effortless effort... 🙂

[Wimborne]

Ktsok I can give no help at all. Sorry 😐. Have no idea what my heart rate is and whilst tempted by a watch I just stick my app on and away i go with my music 🎵 dancing along. Those runners are pretty mucky. Always a sign of a good run. 👍🏃🏼‍♀️

[ktsok in reply to Wimborne]

Sounds wonderful Wimborne, you free spirited hippy you 😉

[mafee]

Oh what a bummer

I had a similar problem in that a friend offered to let me use her treadmill as we had so much ice I couldn’t get out

I forgot to start strava and it thought I had done zero km in zero mins but I had done over 25 mins running

It feels like a logistic exercise sometimes

[ktsok in reply to mafee]

It’s disproportionately disappointing! We don’t need the little numbers telling us we have done it. Maybe we would be better off without them! But...

⌚️🏃‍♀️📊📈

[Hidden]

Awesome run lady! 🙌

I love the Nike headspace runs, but... I feel for you... I really do! I’ve had this too, so frustrating! It’s only numbers, but when you’ve pushed yourself to 5k & worked hard... you wanna see the numbers 😅

You did it tho & that’s your superpower!

Be proud! 🤩

[ktsok in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Dreams 🙂

I am proud.

I am also very nearly the owner of a Garmin... 😉

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Well done on your 5k runs ktsok and post away, we love reading run reports! 😊

I know how frustrating it is not to have the stats to enjoy looking at too!

I use Strava on my phone to record my runs, but bought a second hand Garmin Forerunner 205 on ebay for £24. It is clumpy but records the running fine, however, it is tricky to upload as its an old model.😐 I rely mainly on Strava with the Garmin as back up.

I hope you find something that works for you.. (the free Zombiesrun! App used to carry on recording your distance once the mission finished so you could try that😆) 😊xxx

[ktsok in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

I think running from Zombies three times a week might shorten my lifespan! 😂

I have just bought myself a little present... 🤫😁

[E27M14 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Lol, which one did you buy?

[ktsok in reply to E27M14]

The one which required a credit card 😱

[E27M14 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Ooooh, I really want one!!

[ktsok in reply to E27M14]

I will report back... hopefully, the reasons why you MUST have one 😝

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

I just knew that you would get one!!😊🔮

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

You saw me coming a mile away 😆

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

👀👀🤣🤣

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Enjoy! 👍😁

[Hidden]

Wouldn't it be nice if Garmin gave a discount to all C25K grads? Congrats on graduating and good luck with trying to get the tech sorted. It will all come together... honestly.

[ktsok in reply to Hidden]

That would be wonderful...